Dave Merklinger, manager and ice maker for the Vernon Curling Club, lays the centre line as the club works to put in the ice Tuesday, Sept. 11. Merklinger said the Club will have the ice ready for the weekend and the first curling match. (Parker Crook/Morning Star)

B.C. curling cashspiel features world-class squads

Headlining the women’s field is 2018 Olympic bronze medalist Satsuki Fujisawa of Japan.

Among the men’s rinks competing will be seven-time provincial champion Jim Cotter of the host club, who will debut his new third, former World Curling Tour and Brier foe Steve Laycock of Saskatoon. Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky remain as Cotter’s front end.

“The cashspiel will start at 5 p.m. on the Thursday for the women. The men will start on Friday at 1 p.m.,” said Merklinger.

Playoffs will go Sunday with the finals in both divisions set for late Sunday afternoon, either 3 or 4 p.m.

The women will compete for about $35,000 in prize money while the men will go after $18,000 in purse money.

A weekend pass to cashspiel is $25 or it’s $10 per day. The eight-end games will feature the new five-rock rule, introduced by the World Curling Federation and Curling Canada, where teams can’t hit an opponent’s rock until the sixth rock of the end.

Tickets are available at the Vernon Curling Club. The full draw for each division can be found on the club website.